Toledo:

After arriving in Madrid Monday night, we went to Toledo the following morning for a two day orientation. With my broken Spanish, I learned a lot about the city (but doubt total accuracy since my Spanish is sub-par at best). Here is what I think I learned: Toledo is a city about an hour southeast of Madrid. It is surrounded by the Tajo River and a large stone wall...in fact, most of the buildings in Toledo are strictly medieval. It used to be the capital of Spain before Philip II moved it to Madrid in the middle of the 16th century, but it is still the capital of Castile de la Mancha region. Furthermore, it is probably best known for four things: (1) being the home of well known artists (such as El Greco) (2) being a place that Christians, Jews, and Muslims all co-exist peacefully (3) unreal Gothic buildings (4) Don Quixote. I saw buildings and I walked the narrow streets--below are my findings (a brief caveat: no people in photos yet because to ask random others to be in your photos is a major step in a relationship. I guess you could say I am somewhat Victorian in this regard. Patience while I make friends.):

across the river.


da view.

the Cathedral...very gothic



Gothic Monastery (de San Juan de los Reyes)

neat.

simbolismo...


words.

translation: "without justice, there is no peace."
added: "without god, there is no justice."

Monastery (tres). Ferdinand and Isabella had this church (in the Monastery) built for their burial site, but after they conquered Granada their plans changed.

Monastery [revisited]

El Alcazar.

obvio...

Cross + Cathedral

standard Euro photo...